Exercise machine



Nov. 9,` 1965 E. R. oDoM 3,216,722

EXERCISE MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 196s 4 sheets-sheet 1 Hs 3 53 5| 1. 27 55A l ze Hm-ne s Nov. 9,` 1965 E. R. oDoM 3,216,722

EXERCISE MACHINE Filed Jan. 9. 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EARL R. ODoM BY XM. 10M Swim Hogeys Nov. 9,` 1965 E. R. oDoM l 3,216,722 ExERcIsE MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mMUMSMM/M Horneus Nov. 9,` 1965 E. R. oDoM 3,216,722

EXERCISE MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 |12 /Q/ .8., 12 Q W Fig. 11.

f /z ff' f FigJz. INVENTOR EARL R. OooM A, 'havne s United States Patent O 3,216,722 EXERCISE MACHINE Earl R. Odom, 612 S. Alta Vista, Monrovia, Calif. Filed Jan. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 250,248 2 Claims. (Cl. 272-73) The present invention relates to exercising apparatus finding particular utility for those having partial paralysis but also being of great utility to those in good health and those desiring to lose weight.

In certain cases, a partially paralyzed person will have the full use of some of his limbs or at least partial use of all of his limbs. In such a situation, it is desirable that the person move his limbs through various motions in order to increase muscle power and improve control of the limbs. I have found that one manner of doing this is to use a non or only partially paralyzed limb or limbs to move the more paralyzed limb or limbs through the desired motions.

Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which can be operated by the force and movement of as few as one limb to exercise all of the limbs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an exercising apparatus incorporating means for exercising the limbs through circular movements of Various desired diameters.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exercising apparatus for exercising the arms and associated muscles through linear movements and other non-circular movements of any desired direction.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide an exercising apparatus which is easily adjusted to it users of various size, to provide an exercising apparatus which although of relatively large size can be easily wheeled from., place to place, to provide an exercising appa-ratus which gives simultaneous exercise to all of the limbs and which is also operable to give simultaneous circular movement exercise of varying diameters to all of the limbs, to provide exercising apparatus of the present type which is capable of easy and convenient adjustment of the resistance which the apparatus provides to the exerciser.

A general object of the device is to provide an improved exercising device.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

FIG. l is a perspective view of an exercising machine constructed according to the present invention. Y

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along the plane 2 2 of FIG. l in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows. the upper portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. l.

FIG. 6 is a detail view taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken as if along arrows 7 7 of FIG. 6 but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation partially in section of a seat and associated structure forming a part of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken along the line 9 9 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 8 and is taken along the line 10 10 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 1l is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the lower rearward portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. l showing the apparatus with the Wheels removed.

FIG. l2 is a vertical section taken along the line 12- 12 of FIG. 1l in the direction of the arrows.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of ,the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specitic language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention a-s illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an exercising apparatus including a seat 10. The seat 10 is mounted for oscillation in a manner described below upon a frame 11. Rotatably mounted upon the frame 11 is a pair of wheels 12 which permit wheeling the device from place to place by lifting the frame, for example, at the front base member 15.

Mounted for rotation upon the frame 11 are pedals 16. The circle of rotation through which the pedals move while being pumped by a person sitting on the seat 10 can be adjusted ras can the amount of force necessary to pump the pedals. Also mounted lfor rotation upon the frame are hand cranks 17 which a-re coupled ,for rotation with the pedals 16 by a chain 20. There is further provided grip members 21 which are secured to rope and spring means in a manner to be described and which can be pulled by the hands of a person sitting in the seat 10 in order to exercise the arms, hands, back and associated muscles.

Referring now more particularly to the details of the apparatus, the frame 11 comprises a front-to-rear bar 25 which has the front base member 15 xed thereto at the forward end thereof. The bar 25 also has a curved forward portion 24 to which is clamped by a bolt 27 a frame member 26. The frame member 26 is internally threaded at its upwardly projecting portion 30 and receives upright pipe member 31 which is suitably threaded at its lower end 32 for threaded reception in the portion 30. A lock nut 35 which is knurled on its outer periphery is used to fix the member 31 at any desired vertical position in order to adjust the tightness of the chain 20.

The pedals l16 are conventional in nature and Iare each rotatably mounted on a respective radially extending crank member 35. Each crank member 35 is provided with a plurality of spaced indentations 36 which may be used to -adjust the diameter of the rotation of the axis of the respective pedal 16. Each crank member 35 extends through a suitable radially extending aperture 34 in the respective mem-bers 37. The crank members 35 are secured to rotatable members 37 by means of knurl hea-ded screws 40 which are received within the desired indentation 36. The rotatable members 37 are threadedly fixed (see FIG. 4) to a rotatable shaft 41 which extends through the frame member 26 and is journ'aled therein for rotation with respect thereto by suitable bearing as. sembly such as the bearing assembly 42 of FIG. 4.

As is suggested in FIG. 3, the rotatable memibers 37 have a square cross section. I-t will also be noted in FIGS. 3 and 4 that a friction clutch assembly 43 is provided and can -be tightenedV for diiicult rotation of the `shaft 41 by clockwise rotation of the friction clutch housing 45. The friction clutch housing 45 can be adjusted to permit easier rotation of the shaft 41 by counterclockwise rotation of 'the friction clutch housing.

The structural details making possible such adjustability 'are shown in detail in FIG. 4. The housing 45 is threadedly mounted by its internal threads 46 upon a mounting member 47 fixed 4to the frame member 26 by a setscrew 50. The position of the clutch housing 45 can be fixed Iby tightening a lock nut 51 which is externally knurled at 51A against the housing 45. When the lock nut 51 is threaded away from the housing 45, the housing which is externally knurled at 55A, can be rotated for adjustment of friction. An indicator 53 is fixedly mounted on the member 30 and points to calibrations 54 on the housing 45.

Within the housing 45 are two `friction facings 52 and 55. The friction facing 52 is secured to a member 56 by a pin or pins 57. The member 56 is keyed at 60 to the shaft 41. The rotation of the members 37 produce rotation of shaft 41, member 56 and friction facing V52. Received within the housing 45 and upon the shaft 41 is an annular member 61 -against which bears one end of a spiral compression spring 62. The other end of the spiral compression spring bears against a member 65 to which is secured the `friction facing 55 by means of pin or pins 66.

The member 65 is held against rotation with respect to mounting member 47 -by means of an elongated pin 67 which is threadedly secured to the member 65 and extends through a suitable aperture in the annular member 61 into a bore 70 in the member 47. The pin 67 is slidable in the bore 70 and lthus the pin 67 prevents rotation of the member 65 with respect to the member 47 no matter what the spacing of these members. It can be appreciated that the friction facing 55 is thereby held against rotation. The spring 62 causes the friction facing 55 to bear against the friction facing 52 and to thus hinder the rotation or pumping of the pedal 16.

If it is desired to increase the force necessary to pump the foot pedals, the nut 51 is threaded ghtwardly on the member 47 and the housing 45 is screwed rightwardly all as viewed in FIG. 4 causing the spring 62 to be compressed and to bear with greater intensity against the member 65 causing the friction facings to be urged against one another with greater force. Of course, the housing 45 would then be locked in the new position by the lock nut 51. In like manner, the frictional force produced by the engagement of the two friction facings 52 and 55 can be reduced by moving the housing 45 leftwardly and relocking it in position by nut 51.

Referring to FIG. 5, at the upper end of the upright pipe member 31, there is fixed a frame member 80. A shaft 81 is journaled, extends through the frame member 80 and fixedly mounts on its opposite ends rotatable members 82. The hand crank members 85 are adjustable longitudinally with respect to the members 82 in order to adjust the diameter of rotation of the hand cranks 17. The hand cranks 17 include handles 86 which are rotatably mounted upon yconnecting members 87 joining the handles 86 and the hand crank members 85. The hand crank members 85, similar to the foot cranks, include indentations 90 spaced along the length of the hand crank members and which selectively receive the knurl headed screws 91 which are threaded into the ends of the rotatable members 82. The hand crank members 85, of course, extend through suitable radially extending apertures 92 inthe rotatable members 82.

A sprocket 95 is secured to the shaft 81 and a sprocket 96 ('FIG. 2) is secured to the shaft 41, both sprockets receiving the chain on their sprocket teeth.

Mounted upon the upper end of the frame member 80 is a pair of spring loaded units 100. The spring loaded units 100 include Ithe grip members 21 and are secured to the frame member 80 by a knurl headed screw 101. Each of the spring loaded units 100 includes a housing 102 which has an inwardly projecting portion 103 and 104.

Each of the inwardly projecting portions 103 and 104 is bored for reception of the knurl headed screw 101. When the knurl headed screw 101 is tightened down against the member 104 by threading into the frame member 80, the spring loaded units are fixed in the position or angle at which they are located. Alternatively, the knurl headed screw 101 can be slightly unthreaded or released in order to allow the spring loaded units 100 to swing or oscillate about the axis of the screw 101. In performing certain exercises, such operation is desirable. For example, the user might desire to pull the grip members 21 outwardly away from one another in which case, the spring loaded units 100 are free to swing to a suitable angle for such outward pull.

The internal structure of the spring loaded units 100 is identical to the internal structure of the alternative embodiment of spring loaded unit 100' illustrated in FIG. 7. The only distinction between the spring loaded unit of FIG. 7 and the spring loaded units of FIG. 5 is the manner in which the unit 100 is secured to the exerciser frame. A bar 105 is fixed to the housing 102 by means of a setscrew 106 which extends through a threaded aperture 107 in the wall of a projecting portion 110 extending from the main portion of the housing 102. Alternatively, the portion 110 may be fixed to the bar 105 by suitable clamping means including the ear 111. The shaft 105 is then fixed in any desired manner to the frame of the device and the units 100' are fixed relative to the frame and are, therefore, not swingable or oscillatable with relation to the frame as are the units 100 when screw 101 is loose.

Within the housing 102', there is received a rotatable cup-shaped member 115. This cup-shaped member has a bearing 116 received therein whereby member 115 is rotatable about a stub shaft 117 welded at 120' to the housing 102. The stub shaft 117 receives a snap ring 121' within a suitable peripheral recess 122' therein. A coil spring 125' is fixed at its outer end 126 to the member 115' and by means of a rivet 127'. A rotatable member is received within a cap 131' for rotation with respect thereto, the cap being fixed to the housing 102 by suitable screws 132. The member 130 has a knurled handle 135 on its extending end and includes two bifurcated portions 136 on its inwardly projecting end. Between the bifurcated portions, the inner end 137 of the spring is received.

Referring back to FIG. 6 which shows further details of the spring loaded unit 100, the member 130 is identical to the member 130. The member 130 has inscribed thereon around its forward face numbers such as the number 1 at 140. This number is visible through an opening 139 identical to the opening 139 of FIG. 7. The various other numbers (not shown) can be made visible by rotation of the member 130. Around the periphery of the member 130 are recesses 141 which can receive the enlarged end (not shown) of a member 142 identical to the member 142. The member 142 has an enlarged end 145' internally of the housing 102 and has an enlarged head 146 externally of the housing 102. A spiral compression spring 147 normally bears against the head 146' and against the cap or cover 131 to urge the enlarged portion 145 into one of the recesses 141'.

The grip member 21 is secured to one end of a rope 150 which is Wound around and received within an outwardly opening recess 151 in the member 115'. The inner end 152 of the rope is fixed to the member 115 by a screw 152". It can be appreciated that if a tension or force is present within the spring 125', a pulling out of the rope 150 by use of the hand grips 21 will cause further coiling of the spring 125 and a further forcing or tightening of the spring 125 thus providing a resistance against the pulling out of the rope and providing a force against which the user can exercise. Because of the tension in the spring 125', the spring will pull in the rope 150' when the user relaxes or reduces the force Which he is exerting on the hand grip 21'. If it is desired to adjust the amount of tension or force which must be exerted to pull out the rope 150', the user presses the button 142 which permits rotation of the member 130 relative to the cover 131. The handle 135 is then rotated lto either increase or decrease the force of the spring on the rope 150 by increasing or decreasing the number of coils in the spring. When the user takes his thumb off the pushbutton 142', its enlarged end 145 again locks in one of the recesses 141', preventing further rotation of the member 130.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the details of the seat 10 and associated structure are shown. The seat 10 is secured by suitable screws 160 to a casting 161 having a lat portion 162 and a post 165 projecting therefrom. Received upon the post 165 and bearing against the tiat portion 162 is a ball bearing assembly 166. A further casting 167 is rotatably received upon the lower end of the post 165. The casting 167 includes a radially extending flat portion 170 including stop surfaces 171. Fixed to the seat 10 is a stop pin 172 which projects downwardly between the stop surfaces 171.

Three posts 172, 173 and 175 are secured at their upper ends to the casting 167 and at their lower ends are secured to the frame 11 and more particularly to a cylindrical member 176 slidable on the bar 25 and a cross member 177 fixed to the member 176 and upon which the wheels 12 ar-e rotatably mounted. The cylindrical member 176 has a knurl headed screw 180 threadedly received therein and adapted to be screwed into clamping ears 181 for fixing the position of the seat-Wheel assembly 182 relative to the bar 25. When the knurl headed screw is tightened causing the cylindrical member 176 to grip the bar 25, the seat-wheel assembly 182 will be fixed in position relative to the bar 25. The seatwheel assembly is adjusted by irst releasing the screw 180, by then moving the seat-wheel assembly and by then retightening the screw 180. When the seat-wheel assembly is at the position desired and the wheels and base member 15 are in engagement with the ground, the screw 180 is tightened. This assures that there is no unevenness in the way that the device engages the ground. This is true whether or not the ground or iioor is uneven or flat.

Referring again to FIG. 8, it can be appreciated that the spacing of the stops 171 permits oscillation of the seat 10 relative to the frame. This oscillation will occur as the user of the device pumps the pedals 16 as a result of the movement of the users legs. In case the user desires that the seat remain fixed in position, he can twist the knurl headed knob 185 so that the pin 186 is projected into the recess 187 as shown in FIG. 8. The knob 185 is secured to a shaft 190 which has a pin 186 fixed on its end. The shaft 190 is received within a housing 191 fixed to the casting 167. Fixed Within the housing 191 is an annular stop member 192. A spiral compression spring 195 bears against the annular stop member 192 and against the pin 186. Thus, the tendency of the pin 186 is to force into the recess 187 and the pin Will do so when the Seat oscillates through a position wherein the recess 187 is in registry with the pin.

If it is desired that the seat be freely oscillatable, the knob 185 is pulled out of the housing 191 and twisted through approximately 90 causing the ears 196 to bear against the surfaces 197, thus holding the pin 186 away from the post 165 against the urging of the compression spring 195. In this position, the seat 10 is freely oscillatable.

The apparatus is also provided with a rear base 200 which may be used for three point support of the exercising apparatus if the wheels 12 are removed, the base 200 being fixed to the front-to-rear bar 25.

The operation of the present device should be obvious from the above description. It can be appreciated that rotation of either of the hand cranks 17 or the foot pedal 6 16 will cause rotation of the remaining three cranks. Thus, a person having only partial use of a single limb can exercise his other limbs by the use of the present apparatus. After such exercising has been carried out for a period of time, it has been found that the other limbs regain muscle power and control.

A further operational advantage has been described above as including the adjustability of the hand crank members and the foot crank members 35 to vary the diameter of rotation of the individual hand and foot cranks, respectively. If these adjustments are made through a regular pattern, a well rounded program of exercises for the arms and legs can be provided.

The oscillating feature of the seat 10 is particularly desirable in that pumping of the pedals by the legs produces a simultaneous loosening of the thigh, back and leg muscles. It should also be mentioned that a regular program of exercise including increasing the resistance and consequently, increasing the force necessary to overcome the resistance is possible by the present device. As mentioned above, the housing 43 is calibrated to indicate the amount of friction that must be overcome in order to pump or rotate the hand and foot cranks. Also, the device 106 or 100 includes the numbers which are visible through the opening 141 to indicate the amount to force present in the spring and thus, to indicate the amount of resistance against pulling of the hand grip members 21 From the above description, it will be evident that the present invention provides exercising apparatus which can be operated from the force and movement of as few as one limb to exercise all of the limbs. It will also be evident that the present invention provides exercising apparatus incorporating means for exercising the limbs through circular movements of various desired diameters. It can also be appreciated that the present invention provides exercising apparatus which is easily adjusted to t users of various size, this adjustability being accomplished by use of the knurl-headed screw 180.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. Exercising apparatus comprising a frame, said frame including a cross member, a bar extending forwardly from said cross member and having said cross member slidably mounted thereon, means clamping said cross member to said bar, said bar being perpendicular to said cross member and extending therethrough centrally thereof, wheels rotatably mounted on the opposite ends of said cross member, a forward base fixed to said bar and extending perpendicularly thereof and parallel to said cross member, an upright member secured to said bar and projecting upwardly from said bar between said cross member and said forward base, a first shaft journal mounted on said bar, a pair of foot cranks each secured to said shaft on an opposite side of said base, a second shaft journal mounted on said upright member adjacent the upper end thereof, a pair of hand cranks each secured to said second shaft on an opposite side of said upright member, a first sprocket fixedly mounted on said first shaft, a second sprocket xedly mounted on said second shaft, a chain in engagement with said sprockets and positively gearing said foot cranks and said hand cranks together, adjustable friction means acting between said frame and said first shaft for providing resistance to pumping of said hand cranks and said foot cranks, a seat support tripod-mounted upon said cross member, a seat mounted on said seat support for oscillation about a vertical axis, means for locking said seat against said oscillation, a pair of hand grips, ropes secured at one end to said hand grips, and a pair of coil springs fixed at one end with relation to said upright member, each of said ropes being secured at its other end to the other end of a respective one of said springs.

2. Exercising apparatus comprising a frame, said frame including a cross member, a bar extending forwardly from said cross member and having said cross member slidably mounted thereon, means clamping said cross member to said bar, said bar being perpendicular to said cross member and extending therethrough centrally thereof, wheels rotatably mounted on the opposite ends of said cross member, a forward base fixed to said bar and extending perpendicularly thereof and parallel to said cross member, an upright member secured to said bar and projecting upwardly from said bar between said cross member and said forward base, a first shaft journal mounted on said bar, a pair of foot cranks each secured to said shaft on an opposite side of said base, a second shaft journal mounted on said upright member adjacent the upper end thereof, a pair of hand cranks each secured to said second shaft on an opposite side of said upright member, a rst sprocket iixedly mounted on said first shaft, a second sprocket fixedly mounted on said second shaft, a chain in engagement with said sprockets and positively gearing said foot cranks and said hand cranks together, adjustable friction means acting between said frame and said first shaft for providing resistance to pumping of said hand cranks and said foot cranks, a seat support tripod mounted upon said cross member, a seat mounted on said seat support for oscillation about a vertical axis, means for locking said seat against said oscillation, and a pair of hand grip units mounted on said upright member at the upper end thereof and incorporating means for providing resistance to pull, each of said hand grip units comprising: a cupshaped housing, a stub shaft xed to said housing and projecting thereinto coaxially thereof, a concave member journal mounted on said stub shaft for rotation about the axes of said housing and stub shaft, said concave member being formed with an annular radially-extending recess in its outer periphery, a hand grip, a rope secured to said hand grip and extending through said housing into said recess, said rope being coiled within said recess and xed at its inner end to said concave member, a spring coiled within the concave portion of said concave member and secured at its outer end to said concave member, a cover secured to and closing said cup-shaped housing, a rotatable handle mounted on said cover and having a bifurcated portion projecting into said cupshaped housing and straddling the inner end of said spring, said handle having indicia inscribed thereon in a circular pattern, said cover having an opening therethrough whereby said indicia are selectively visible to indicate varying amounts of tension in said spring, and locking means mounted on said cover for locking said handle at various angles of rotation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 786,552 4/05 Duifner 272-79 1,783,376 12/30 Duff 272-79 1,872,256 8/32 Denney 272-73 1,909,002 5/ 33 Oehlburg 272-73 2,550,992 5/51 Goodrich 272-58 2,661,672 12/53 Fairbanks 248-163 X 2,790,439 4/57 Mayers 272-73 X 2,959,414 11/60 SaltZ 272-83 2,980,055 4/61 Burns 116-133 X 3,017,180 l/62 Aronsohn 272-73 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. EXERCISING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME, SAID FRAME INCLUDING A CROSS MEMBER, A BAR EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID CROSS MEMBER AND HAVING SAID CROSS MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED THEREON, MASS CLAMPING SAID CROSS MEMBER TO SAID BAR, SAID BAR BEING PERPENDICULAR TO SAID CROSS MEMBER AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH CENTRALLY THEREOF, WHEELS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CROSS MEMBER, A FORWARD BASE FIXED TO SAID BAR AND EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY THEREOF AND PARALLEL TO SAID CROSS MEMBER, AN UPRIGHT MEMBER SECURED TO SAID BAR AND PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BAR BETWEEN SAID CROSS MEMBER AND SAID FORWARD BASE, A FIRST SHAFT JOURNAL MOUNTED ON SAID BAR, A PAIR OF FOOT CRANKS EACH SECURED TO SAID SHAFT ON AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID BASE, A SECOND SHAFT JOURNAL MOUNTED ON SAID UPRIGHT MEMBER ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF, A PAIR OF HAND CRANKS EACH SECURED TO SAID SECOND SHAFT ON AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID 